CNC3 weekend anchor and senior journalist Francesca Hawkins is the new Media Association of T&T president.
Yesterday, Hawkins, a former MATT executive, defeated her three opponents Sheldon Yearwood, Sterling Henderson and Irving Ward to capture MATT’s top post.
Cheers broke out as Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers (ACM) general secretary Wesley Gibbings, who served as the returning officer for the elections, announced the results around 12.30 pm at the TSTT Hospitality Suite, Queen’s Park Oval, Port-of-Spain.
Gibbings said 54 members turned up for the executive election, which was prompted following the collapse of the previous Curtis Williams-led executive. He said it was one of the highest turnouts ever. Voting was held in San Fernando and Tobago via video link provided by TSTT.
He said now that MATT had its executive in place it was time for the work to begin, as the ACM will be partnering with the association to host, for the first time in T&T, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange in October. The IFEX meeting, he said, is an international meeting which will feature discussions with near 100 international organisations all concerned with freedom of expression around the world.
The election was not without controversy, as six candidates were initially disqualified for failing to be present at the start of the election at 10 am.
Among the initially disqualified candidates were Henderson, Ward, floor member candidates Rhondor Dowlat, Soyini Grey, Julien Neaves and Reshma Ragoonath. After vociferous protests by the candidates, the interim executive put a motion to the membership to have the voting process redone. It was overwhelmingly agreed to, although three members voted against it.
At the end of the second voting process Hawkins received 21 votes, while Yearwood, Henderson and Ward, received 12, ten and ten respectively. T&T Guardian reporter Kalifa Clyne captured the vice president post with 41 votes with Henderson receiving ten votes.
Hawkins pledged to work with all members of MATT for her full two-year term. She also encouraged all candidates to work with the new executive to rebuild MATT. She said one of the first topics that the new executive will address is the ongoing social media feud between certain journalists and the online smear campaigns.
New executive
President: Francesca E Hawkins
Vice Pres: Kalifa Clyne
Secretary: Jabari Fraser
Asst Sec: Kristy Kalisingh
Treasurer: Anthony Gittens
Floor Members:
Kevon Felmine, Sheila Rampersad.